With parent headquarters in Austria, Andersen Ireland (250 employees) manufactures cosmetic jewellery bearing the very reputable Pierre Lang brand name. The company’s electroplating operation is governed by the terms of its Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licence issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Waste Management Programme
Waste Elimination / Reduction / Reuse
Incoming packaging
Incoming packaging For raw materials required in large volumes, Andersen only purchases from companies that can supply product in reusable Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC's). Where materials are required in limited quantities, the company seeks suppliers who agree to supply their product in reusable containers where possible. For example, suppliers who deliver goods in cardboard boxes take back the cardboard boxes for reuse in future deliveries to Andersen.
Process
One major achievement has been the reduction of filter cake waste generated from the treatment process. This waste has been reduced by approximately 50% compared to 1999, as a result of ongoing improvements to the filtering process.
Recovery / Recycling
Andersen has a well-established programme for segregation and off-site recycling of metals and cardboard, albeit that the quantities of these wastes are kept at a minimum in the first instance.
Recycling of special waste: Filter cake from treatment process
Andersen was successful in finding a recovery source for one of the three types of waste filter cake generated from the process. Previously requiring disposal, since 2002 this filter cake is now being sent to World Resources Company in Dresden, Germany, for recovery of metals. Andersen also hopes to find recovery outlets for the other two types of process filter cake waste.
Further Trials
Gypsum waste
By far the greatest contributor to waste at the plant is the generation of non-hazardous Gypsum waste (approx 60% of the total waste requiring disposal). Andersen is in communication with Irish Cement in the hope of setting up a programme whereby the waste filter cake can be incorporated into cement products - initial analysis and trials prove promising.
Overall Reduction in Waste Disposal
In 2003, the amount of nonhazardous waste that Andersen sent to landfill was approximately 30% less than in 2000. This represents an even greater percentage saving in terms of the total cost of waste, considering increases in waste disposal costs and indeed the cost of raw materials. Further improvements are anticipated depending on the success of ongoing trials.
